Across the first six years of Perry's international career her bowling was considered so valuable that she was deployed in the top six only once. It was at the tail end of the Southern Stars' previous tour of England that their hierarchy decided to give her a batting berth to match her all-rounder reputation, after her unbeaten 31 from number eight in the one-off Test.

Even though the Stars lost the series in England the right-hander's unbeaten 45 in the final one-dayer proved a turning point for her. From that point her batting record for Australia, typically at four or five, has been remarkable: 463 runs at an average 154.33.

During last summer's home series against the West Indies the 24-year-old quietly beat the previous women's international record of three consecutive 50-plus scores. Her streak stretching back to January 2014, when she made 90 not out in the series-ending match against England in Hobart, currently stands at five. Furthermore, she has been dismissed in only three of those eight innings.

That series against England was also memorable for her 71 and 31 in the home Test in Perth.

Perry reckoned there was no secret to her batting surge since her preceding overseas Ashes tour, explaining she had been primarily renowned for her batting until a growth spurt in her teens.

"It's probably down to opportunity, and maturing a little bit more with my own game," she said.

Perry said being recognised for the second string to her bow had been a blessing, despite the experience of men's cricketers demonstrating it is difficult for all-rounders to simultaneously thrive in both disciplines.

"It gives you an opportunity to bounce back quicker than if you just did one thing," she said. "I'd still like to be able to contribute as a strike-bowler with the ball. What it does do is keep me involved in the game a bit more and gives me two perspectives on how to think about things.

"It's certainly helped my bowling. I certainly feel a bit more relaxed when I'm bowling."

Perry has gained significant attention for her rare status as an international across two sports. While cricket has been her focus of late she insisted she had not given up on a career in soccer, in the aftermath of the Matildas' success at the recent World Cup.

"With the Ashes series coming up that's sort of my priority at the moment. But when I get back I've still very much got a lot of goals and aspirations I'd like to achieve in soccer, starting off with the W-League at the end of the year," she said. "I'll just do what I've always done, I guess. I really enjoy it."

Perry is on her third tour of England with the Southern Stars and is adamant she and her teammates could not be better placed to regain the Ashes, following defeats by the formidable English in the past two series.

"There's a lot of experience within our group now, the same core group of players for a number of years. We've probably all grown up and matured as a team, and it gives you a great understanding of each other and where you're at in not just cricket but also personally," she said.

"From an experience point of view we're equal or very much comparable to England. It's going to be about who plays the best and most consistent cricket while we're over there."

The Stars will play their final practice match on Sunday in Taunton, against an England academy team coached by decorated former Australia batter Lisa Keightley. The one-day component of the Ashes begins in Taunton on Tuesday.

Jesse Hogan is covering the women's Ashes with the support of Cricket Australia.